Wood Badge 147

On May 4, 2026, I had the incredible honor of receiving my Wood Badge beads—a milestone that signifies the completion of my Wood Badge ticket and a journey that has challenged, inspired, and transformed me as a leader.

For those unfamiliar with Wood Badge, participants develop and complete a “ticket” consisting of five meaningful goals designed to strengthen Scouting and grow their leadership through service. The process takes months of dedication, planning, collaboration, and perseverance. Completing a ticket isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about creating lasting impact for the youth and communities we serve.

My ticket focused on five goals that were deeply meaningful to me:

⚜️ Creating Scouts BSA Troop 302G to provide a place for young women in our community to continue their Scouting journey and develop as leaders.

⚜️ Developing and implementing a sustainable, reproducible recruitment plan for Troop 302G that can help ensure healthy growth for years to come.

⚜️ Becoming a registered Merit Badge Counselor, allowing me to mentor Scouts in a variety of subjects. Today, I am proud to counsel 14 different merit badges.

⚜️ Creating and maintaining websites and social media platforms for Pack 5150, Troop 302G, and Troop 302B to improve communication, support recruitment, and better serve our Scouting families.

⚜️ Fundraising for and purchasing a tandem hiking cart for a youth in our Pack living with muscular dystrophy, helping ensure he could fully participate in outdoor adventures with his fellow Scouts. What began as a single ticket goal ultimately grew into something much larger—the creation of Scouting for All, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Scouting accessible to every youth regardless of ability.

While my name may be on the ticket, none of these accomplishments were achieved alone. I am deeply grateful to the countless friends, family members, fellow Scouters, mentors, leaders, and volunteers who encouraged me, challenged me, offered guidance, and helped turn these ideas into reality. Your support made all the difference.

Wood Badge taught me many lessons, but one theme echoed throughout the entire experience: Servant Leadership. Leadership is not about titles or recognition—it is about serving others, helping them succeed, and leaving things better than you found them.

Receiving these beads marks the completion of one chapter, but it is far from the end of the journey. I leave this experience with renewed determination to continue growing Scouting, developing youth leaders, expanding opportunities for inclusion, and serving our communities wherever I can.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this adventure. The beads may represent the completion of a ticket, but the work—and the privilege of serving our youth—continues.

#WB147 #WoodBadge147 #BackToGilwell #BeaversBuildLegacy